President Donald Trump has publicly attributed the months-long mystery of bruises on his hands to his own long-term aspirin regimen and dismissed widespread speculation about hidden health issues.
Donald Trump began 2026 by confronting the relentless public and medical scrutiny over visible marks on his hands that have become a symbol of growing concern about his health at 79 and in the second term of his presidency. He granted a rare, extensive interview to The Wall Street Journal in which he disclosed that his habit of taking a higher-than-recommended daily dose of aspirin has, in his telling, made him prone to easy bruising, undercutting earlier official explanations and igniting fresh debate about transparency.
Trump used the platform to castigate critics and test his own narrative of vigorous health, even as independent doctors and observers continue to urge greater openness about his condition. The bruising, combined with prior reports of swollen legs and occasional images of Trump appearing to rest his eyes in public meetings, has become a political flashpoint and raised broader questions about presidential fitness and disclosure standards.
Trump's Explanation of The Bruises and Aspirin Regimen
In the interview published on 01 January 2026, Trump directly addressed months of speculation, presenting his own explanation for the bruises that have been widely photographed and discussed. He acknowledged that he takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, a dosage far above the commonly recommended low dose of 81 milligrams used by many clinicians for cardiovascular prevention.
Trump said he has maintained this larger aspirin dose for 25 years because he believes 'aspirin is good for thinning out the blood' and wants 'nice, thin blood pouring through my heart,' adding with characteristic bluntness that he is 'a little superstitious' about changing a routine he has relied on for decades. Medical literature notes that while low-dose aspirin can reduce risks of heart attack or stroke in certain populations, higher doses increase the risk of bleeding and bruising, particularly in older adults, which aligns with clinical understanding, even as Trump positioned his choice as personal prerogative.
The president also recounted specific moments, including a minor cut he said resulted from a high-five from his attorney general nominee, a description that humanised the debate even as it underscored how tender, easily marred skin can be at his age.
Trump said he sometimes uses makeup or bandages to conceal 'when I get whacked again by someone,' an unorthodox admission that nevertheless speaks to his efforts to manage optics around his health.
Speaking with the WSJ, Trump claimed he takes high doses of aspirin, which he says is why his hands bruise so easily. Despite doctors advising him to take less, he refused, citing “superstition.”
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 1, 2026
“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood… pic.twitter.com/45KOUgHVas
Age, Health Scrutiny, and Official Medical Assessments
Trump's revelation about aspirin came amid persistent health rumours that extend beyond hand bruising. Earlier in his presidency, photos of swelling in his lower legs led the White House physician to diagnose him with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common among older adults in which veins have trouble returning blood from the legs to the heart.
The WSJ interview also clarified that a diagnostic imaging procedure Trump previously referenced as an MRI conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was actually a CT scan, performed as part of a preventative cardiovascular evaluation. Trump acknowledged regretting the publicity around that scan, saying it gave critics a little ammunition to question his health despite 'perfectly normal' findings, as confirmed by his doctor, Navy Captain Sean Barbabella.
Trump insisted his health is 'perfect,' a claim he has reiterated since late 2025. He defended his energy and mental sharpness, noting he habitually begins work early and maintains a taxing schedule, adding that he has 'very good genetics' and denying that he dozes off in public, often attributing such moments to normal blinking or resting his eyes.
Despite these assertions, independent experts acknowledge that visible symptoms such as easy bruising and swelling can reflect both benign age-related changes and the effects of medications that alter clotting function. Physicians not involved in Trump's care have noted that aspirin's blood-thinning properties do contribute to bruising and that transparency regarding a leader's health is critical for public trust.
Donald Trump, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, described his health as “excellent” and said:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 1, 2026
— He takes a daily aspirin at four times the commonly recommended low dose, despite doctors advising him to cut back.
— He goes to sleep late and often texts aides or… pic.twitter.com/K6Pb6cDIBn
Political and Public Reaction to Trump's Disclosure
Trump's admissions drew swift reaction across political and medical communities. Supporters have lauded his candour and portrayed the bruising as trivial in the context of an otherwise demanding schedule, while critics contend the episode highlights deeper issues over the transparency and management of presidential health. Many analysts note that Trump's own combative style in addressing criticism, blending personal anecdotes, deflection, and outright dismissal of scepticism, resonates with his base and fuels ongoing debate.
Public scrutiny intensified in late December 2025 after new bruising was observed on Trump's left hand, complicating earlier explanations that attributed marks solely to frequent handshaking, given his right-hand dominance. Independent physicians who reviewed images told CNN that while age and aspirin use can explain bruising, the pattern and recurrence reinforce calls for more comprehensive disclosure about medications and underlying conditions.
Political opponents seized on the disclosures to argue for stricter reporting requirements for presidential health, asserting that bruising and other visual signs could mask more significant issues if not accompanied by full medical transparency. Supporters countered that the focus on bruising obscures substantive policy debates and is used as a political cudgel.
Trump's defensive interview underscores how personal health has become a central and contentious aspect of contemporary political discourse, where physical signs in a leader are magnified into broader narratives about fitness for office and generational change.
As President Trump seeks to quell speculation with his own explanation, the controversy over bruises, aspirin dosage, and health transparency is likely to remain a defining element of political discourse in 2026.
